Apparatus for testing yarns, threads, filaments, and the like



' Sept. 7, 1937. A. G. BOUITIUYS 2,092,439

APPARATUS FOR TESTING YARNS, THREADS,- FILAMENTS, AND THE LIKE FiledAug. 17, 1 935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 7, 1937. A H Y 2,092,439

APPARATUS FOR TESTING YARNS, THREADS, FILAMENTS, AND THE LIKE Filed Aug.17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wot/MAJ Patented Sept. 7, 1937 PATENT OFFICEAPPARATUS FOR TESTING YARNS, 'rmgians, mamas-rs, AND 'rnn Aleidus G.Bouliuys, l'lnka, N. 0., assignmto American Enka Corporation, Enka, N.0., a corporation of Delaware Application August 1-1, 1935, Serial No.36,735

5 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for testing yarns, artificial silk,or the like, hereinafter referred to as yarns, and more particularly toap-- paratus for detecting flaws in the yarn having 5 sub-normal tensilestrength, which apparatus consists of means for continuously feeding theyarn through adequate guide and tensioning means'under predeterminedtension to a point of test from which it is passed through adequatetraverse guide means to a spool on which it is wound. a

The point at which an average section of nondefective yarn will breakdepends upon the denier of the thread to be tested, i.' e., a great dealless force is required to break a fine yarn than, isrequired to break acoarse yarn. Therefore, it

has been a simple matter to determine standards of breaking strength fordifierent kinds of yarn. by running a'series of tests for breakingstrength on a conventional single strand testing machine.

ular grade of yarn breaks below its normal breakingstrength the reasonis laid to a defect in .the yarn. The yarn can be studied at the pointof breakage and the causes thereof determined.

Further, it is well known that artificial silk yarns of a particulardenier may be stretched up .to a point considered normal for. thatdenier,

without damaging the yarn, although beyond said point the yarn will beabnormally stretched and broken. If no defect occurs in the yarn, theyarn under test will break at the point which is considered normalforthat particular denier.

Therefore, I have provided an apparatus whereby tension may be imposedon the yarn prior to its reaching the testing device, the tension so iapplied being suflicient to set theindicating device at. the positionindicating the extent to which the yarn may normally be stretchedwithout breaking or otherwise injuring the filaments.v

Under such circumstances, when a weak spot occurs in the yarn, thenormal tension so applied.

to it will cause it to break. Upon the breakage oi the yarn the ends aretied together and the machine is again set in motion. Thus, it ispossible, continuously, quickly and efllciently totest an entire body ofyarn for defects as may exist,

breakingstrength testing machine is converted Accordingly, it a sampleof a partic-' into a continuous running single strand testing machinewithout permanently modifying the same. Such a device as is contemplatedby this invention causes the breaking strength testing machine to beconvertible at will by the simple expedient of moving the table on whichthe auxiliary machine is mounted to a position adjacent the singlestrand breaking strength testing machine and then after detaching theupper clamp by which the thread is normally held, re-- 10 placing theclamp with a grooved fiber roller .and bearing assembly. Such conversionof the machine eliminates the necessity of maintaining a two individualunits, one for testing a single strand for breaking strength and theother for 5 continuously testing a runniifg strand for points ofsubnormal tensile strength.

A type of single strand breaking strength testing machine with whichthis auxiliary machine is adapted to beused is marketed by Goodbrand 2o8; 00., Ltd. machine comprises generally an upright'steel column havinga thread clamping means slidably mounted thereon, the-upward or downwardmovement of which is controlled by a manually operated weight andrelease lever. 25 An upper clamp is attached to a band wound about thecircumference of a roller which controls the movements of an indicator:directed to a quadrant shaped scale. In operation, this type of machinesecured at 'one end in the lower clamp which is slidably mounted on theupright support, while the other end thereof is secured in the upperclamp which is attached to the band wound about the circumference of theroller 'con- 35 trolling the-indicatlng device.' The initial distancebetween the two clamps is ordinarily about centimeters. The operatorcustomarily selects a section of yarn of sumcient additional length tomakesure the section is long enough to allow 40 for clamping the ends.The operator then .releases the weight controlling the movement of thelower clamp, causing the lower clamp to move downward. As the thread isstretched, the indicator is displaced and moves along the 45 quadrantscale until the yarn breaks. Therefore, it can be seen that theelongation of the yarn as well as the. force applied to the yarn isindicated, v r I I Testing by a single strand breaking strength -machineis indeed a tedious procedure since to test individual sections of theyarn takenfrom representative parts throughout the length of the spoolofyyarn would require considerabletime.

Accordingly, it is impracticable to test all parts has the section ofyarn to be tested 30' of yarn body with the single strand breakingstrength testing machine. For this reason it has been customary toconfine tests on said type of machine to the outermost and innermostlayers of the yarn. Although the tested samplesof thread be found to besatisfactory, yet a defective and subnormal section of yarn may exist inthose sections of yarn which have not been tested.

This invention further contemplates a machine by which yarns having abroad range of tensile strengths may be tested accurately. To accomplishthis, a pendulum type indicator is used. Pivoted on an axis immediatelyabove the axis of the indicator is a second pendulum, the mass of whichis in the form of a grooved roller that is adapted to'roll along thestem of the indicator. Thus these two pendulums cooperate to add to thecapacity of the machine and yet give maximum deflections of theindicator for loads applied in testing relatively light yarns.

A further object is the provision of a simple device or combination ofdevices to convert a single strand breaking strength testing apparatusinto an apparatus with which to detect spots of lower breaking strengthin the yarn being tested by applying a constant load that may beregulated in proportion to the total average breaking load of the yarnunder test.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a novelcombination and arrangement of elements to cooperate with a singlestrand breaking strength tester to form a continuous and running strandtesting machine in which all the elements thereof are mounted on atable, or like structure, whereby the machine is rendered portable.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of acontinuous running strand testing machine with a capacity for testingyarns having a broad range of tensile strengths which will in all casesgive indications which can be easily and accurately read.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine with the motor therefor beingshown in broken lines to permit the unobstructed illustration of theparts therebehind;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the indicator scale taken along the line2--2 of Fig. 1 showing the stop for the indicator clamped in position onthe scale;

Fig. 3 is a detail bottom view of the stop as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken alongthe line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the entire machine;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the machine showing only the prime mover andthe winding mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of Fig. 1 showing theprimary tensioning means in detail; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the support for the primary tensioningmeans along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, showing in detail its adjustablefeatures.

The numeral i designates a spool or cone of yarn to be tested which isplaced upon a felt pad 2. Pad 2 is secured to the top surface of one endof the table 3. Yarn I from the cone is then brought upwardly through aconventional pigtail guide member 5 which is secured to the edge of ahorizontal table or platform 6 that is mounted upon and secured to avertical support 8 by a suitable bolt 1. The vertical support 8 havingits bottom end formed in the shape of a flat foot member 9 is secured tothe table 3 by suitable screws or bolts l0. Mounted on the horizontaltable 6 are small and large conventional disk type rotatable members ll,around which the yarn 4 is brought from the pigtail guide 5. Therotation of these members by the yarn effects a preliminary tensionthereon. The yarn is th en passed under a conventional porcelain guide'l2'to the main tension element.

The main or principal tension element is forme with a stepped,circumferentially grooved roller I3 preferably made of hard rubber,which is journaled on, and adapted to turn about, a central shaft l4.Shaft I4 is secured at one end to a vertical support l5 which support isin the form of a bracket. The arm of the bracket which provides thesupport for the roller I3 is of suiiicient length to give the roller itsnecessary relative elevation while the other arm of the bracket isprovided with elongated holes or slots and is secured to the table 3 bysuitable screws or bolts it which pass through the slots. Suchconstruction provides for transverse adjustment of the main tensionelement so that the part of the grooved roller last contacted by theyarn is in alignment with a roller IT. Secured to the'shaft i4 andvertical support i 5 by link members I8 is a roller l 9 having grooveswhich correspond to the circumferential grooves in the roller l3. Rollerl9 which may be formed of steel, glass or other material is disposed ina manner such that its axis is parallel to and in substantially the samehorizontal plane as that of the stepped grooved roller l3.

Yarn from the porcelain guide I 2 is passed over both the grooved rollerl3 and the grooved roller l9 then back under the grooved roller l3 thuscompleting one turn. Suiiicient turns are takefi about these members-tosubstantially pr'ev'ent slippage on the grooved rollers. In order toretard the turning of the grooved roller l3 and thereby apply tension tothe strand of yarn being tested, a'fiexible steel brake band 20 havingone of its ends 2| secured to the anchor member 22, carried by an arm 23projecting from the vertical support I5, is brought over and in contactwith the surface of the stepped portion 24 of the roller l3. End 25 ofthe brake band is secured to a spring 26 which is in turn connected tothe eyelet 21 of the threaded rod 28. This rod 28 cooperates with thenut 29 and the anchor member 30 to form adjustment means for the brake20.

Beyond the point just referred to the yarn 4 is passed from the maintensioning element under a fiber roller l1 journaled on a shaft 32 whichis secured to a suitable vertical support 33. The yarn is then carriedupwardly and over the grooved fiber roller 3| which is attached toandactuates a testing machine indicator 35 for the purpose hereinaftermore fully described. From the roller 34 the yarn is brought downwardlyand passed under the grooved roller 36 which is mounted in a mannersimilar to the roller l1 and the yarn is then carried through aconventional traverse guide 3! to a spool or cone 38 on which it iswound.

Spool 38 is supported by a shaft 39 which shaft is supported in slots 40formed in'the upper end of two vertical support members ll. The ends ofthe shaft 39 are provided with circumferential grooves 39' and theyextend through the slots a sufllcient distance to receive rings 42 whichare secured to one. end of the respective coil springs 43. Theoppositeends of the coil springs are secured by suitable eye-bolts 44 orother anchor means to the surface of the table. Springs 43 function tohold the driven shaft down in its bearings in such manner that theperiphery of the driven spool 38 is maintained in frictional engagementwith a soft rubber driving roll 45. The soft rubber driving roll ismounted on a shaft that is journaled in bearings 46 which are formed inthe vertical supports 4|, the supportsibeing secured to' the table bymeans of suitable screws or bolts 41 Soft rubber roll 45 which as stateddrives the. spool 38 is in turn driven by frictional engagement with a'shaft 41, the axis of which is parallel to that of the driving rollerand the spool. Shaft 41 is journaled in bearings 48 carried by thevertical supports 4| and it is driven through a suitable connection byan electric motor 49. The motor is positioned on the table, and securedadjacent the vertical supports, by suitable screws or bolts 50. Securedto the end of the shaft 41 opposite from that to which the motor isengaged, is a pulley II which is adapted to rotate therewith. Thispulley, through the medium of a belt, chain, or similar means 52 drivesa pulley. 53 which actuates a conventional traverse guide mechanismgenerally indicated at 54. X

It will be clear, therefore, that the electric motor, by means of theshaft 41 and the soft rubber roll 45 drives the spool 38 to effect thewinding various tension devices described above.

That portion of the table between the two vertical supports for therollers I1 and 36 is cut out to receive the upright supporting membersof a testing machine to an extent which permits alignment of roller 34with the rollers i1 and 86. The roller 34 and bearing assembly isdetachably secured to one end of a flexible band, tape or cable 55. theotherend of which is brought over and secured to the periphery of thedisk 56 which is keyed to or made integral with a shaft 51 adapted to besupported by and journaled in bearings 58 carried by the yoke member 59.An indicator 3! of indicator cooperates with an arcuate scale I! to givean indication of the testing force which is applied to the yarn.

To give the machine a greater capacity with- .out detracting gom itsaccuracy in indicating relatively light loads, a second pendulum 68 ispivotally securedto a vertical support 69 immediately above the axis ofthe indicator 35. Its mass is provided by a grooved roller I0 which isadapted to rollalong the stem of the indicator pendulum I5, and producethe effect of adding mass to the indicator pendulum with increaseddeflections resulting from corresponding increases in load. with thisparticular arrangement of pendulums, in addition to increasing thecapacity of the machine, the calibration curve for the scale will morenearly approach a straight line. and as a result the indications may bemore accurately read..

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a clamp 60 is provided asshown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. The clamp is adapted to be secured tothe arcuate scale member 35' and form" "a stop for the pendulumindicator. This stop is utilized to prevent the pendulum from swinginginto the vertical position when the yarn breaks. A pendulum of suchlength as is utilized in testing machines of this character is of lightconstruction and is readily bent or deio'rmed'with rough usage. Hencethe necessity for providing a stop member which can be placed near thepoint on the scale to which the indicator points when the machine is inoperation. As clearly shown by Figs. 2 and 3, the clamp 60 is in theform of a metal yoke and is substantially ushaped. One arm 6| of theyoke is provided with a tapped hole 62 which communicates with the spacebetween the two members of the yoke and is adapted to receive a setscrew 63, by which the yoke is secured to the scale. On one face of theyoke is secured, by a suitable bolt 64, a rubber buffer adapted tocontact the pendulum when the pendulum strikes the stopmember.

The bottom end of the arcuate scale is secured to the vertical support66 while the upper and outer end thereof is bolted to one end of ahorizontal brace 61 which is secured along with the yoke member 59, tothe vertical support 66 at a. point near the top thereof. ,y

This invention also contemplates the use of single strand breakingstrength testing machines other than the one described in the preferredembodiment of this invention which could be readily converted ina'manner taught by this invention.

What I claim is:

- 1. A continuous running strand testing machine comprising incombination preliminary tension and guide means, a grooved roller, asmaller roller having grooves corresponding to the grooves in said firstroller, said grooves being adapted to receive a number of turns of theyarn about both rollers, a brake band positioned on a stepped portion ofthe first mentioned roller, adjusting means for said brake band wherebythe resistance of the roller against turning, to efl'ect a predeterminedtension on the thread being tested, may be varied, means for indicatingthe tension applied to the yarn, and collection means on which thethread is wound continuousiy at a constant rate while being tested.

2. An attachment for a standard breaking strength testing machineadapted to convert the same into a continuous running strand testingmachine comprising in combination a table, preliminary tensioning andguide means mounted on one end of the table, a grooved roller comprisinga main tensioning means, an adjustable support for the grooved roller,the foot of the support being provided with elongated openings throughwhich screws or bolts are passed to permit transverse adjustment of themain tensioning means whereby a strand leaves the last groove of theroller at right angles to the axis of the roller and is in alignmentwith the groove of the next roller contacted, a secondgrooved roller andbearing assembly adapted to be secured to an actuating band of a tensionindicating mechanism, a pair of spaced grooved rollers, independentsupports for said rollers,-a spool and a prime mover for driving saidspool to effect a constant rate of winding of the yarn thereon whereby Isaid roll, said grooves being adapted to receive a suflicient number ofturns of yarn about the roller and roll to prevent slippage on the roll,a brake band positioned on a stepped portion of said roll, adjustablemeans for said brake 5 band whereby the resistance of the roll againstturning, to effect a predetermined tension on the thread being tested,may be varied, a support for said roll, brake band, and roller havingelongated openings in the foot thereof, means for adjustably securingthe foot of the support to a plane .surface whereby the yarn will leavethe roll and roller substantially without deflection, means forindicating the tension applied to the yarn, and collection means onwhich the thread is wound continuously at a constant rate while beingtested.

4. An apparatus for testing a continuous running strand of yarncomprising in combination preliminary tension and guide means,.anadjustable primary roller tension device whereby predetermined tensionmay be placed on the yarn to be tested, a vertical support for theprimary tension, said support being transversely adjustable with respectto the path of travel of the yarn, a pair of grooved rollers mounted onfixed bearings and in line with the path of travel of the yarn, a thirdgrooved roller having its bearing secured to the lower end of a band anddisposed between and a substantial distance above the first two groovedrollers but in the same vertical plane, a disk adapted to 'be rotatedabout its axis by the upper end of said band, means by which the band issecured to the disk, a pendulum type indicator adapted to be actuated bythe disk, an arcuate scale so disposed that it will cooperate with theindicator to give a reading of testing force applied to the yarn,

a second pendulum the mass of which is a grooved roller that is adaptedto rest on and roll along 40 the stem of the indicator, said secondpendulum having its axis above the axis of the indicator and in verticalalignment therewith, a traverse guide through which theyarn is wound ona spool, a prime mover adapted to rotate the spool to draw the yarnthrough the testing machine thus overcoming the opposing force to themovement of the yarn imposed by the tension means to efiect the testingof the yarn while it is continuously being drawn through the apparatus.

5. An apparatus for testing'a continuously running strand of yarncomprising in combination preliminary tension and guide means, a stepped5 circumferentially grooved roll, a roller having grooves correspondingto the grooves in said roll, said grooves being adapted to receive theyarn whereby a suflicient number of turns taken about the roller androll will prevent slippage on the 10 roll, a brake band positioned on astepped portion of said roll, adjustable means for said brake bandwhereby the resistance of the roll against turning, to effect apredetermined tension on the thread being tested, may be varied, asupport 15 for said roll, brake band, and roller having elongatedopenings in the foot thereof, means carried in said openings foradjustably securing the support to a plane surface whereby the yarn willleave the roll and roller at substantially a right 20 angle to theroller, a pair of grooved rollers permanently mounted on fixed supportsin line with the path of travel of the yarn, a third grooved rollerhaving its bearing secured to the lower end of a band and disposedbetween and 25 a substantial distance above the first two'groovedrollers but in the same vertical plane, a disk adapted to be rotatedabout its axis by the upper end of said band, means by which the band issecured to the disk, a pendulum type indicator adapted to be actuated bythe disk, an arcuate scale so disposed that it will cooperate with theindicator to give a reading of testing force applied to the yarn, asecond pendulum the mass of which is a grooved roller that is adapted torest on and roll along the stem of the indicator, said second pendulumhaving its axis above the axis of the indicator and in verticalalignment therewith, a traverse guide through which the yarn is wound ona. spool, a prime mover adapted to rotate the spool to draw the yarnthrough the testing machine thus overcoming the oppos-. ing force to themovement of the yarn imposed by the tension means to effect the testingof the yarn while it is continuously-being drawn 45 through theapparatus.

ALEIDUS G. BOUHUYS.

